JUST as they had done throughout a series of six successive Premiership victories, Everton took credit despite cruel, gutwrenching defeat.

JUST as they had done throughout a series of six successive Premiership victories, Everton took credit despite cruel, gutwrenching defeat.

No-one in Royal Blue was in the mood to contemplate positives after Newcastle had snatched victory with two goals in the final five minutes at St James' Park yesterday - one a wonder strike, one a deflection - but consolation was undoubtedly there.

For a start, match-winners Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy left the pitch wearing Everton jerseys. For a long time now the only player from an upwardly mobile club like Newcastle who would have been seen dead in Royal Blue was Gary Speed.

But Everton are now widely respected throughout the Premiership - and they proved yesterday they are no one-man band.

Joseph Yobo has largely been creditted for the incredible run of clean sheets Everton have compiled since Freddie Ljungberg last beat Richard Wright (above left) more than 10 hours ago.

But Everton played more than 70 minutes without him yesterday - following Mark Halsey's harsh red card -and showed just as much doughty resilience.

The Blues were reduced to 10-men when Craig Bellamy paid back a small slice of the debt he owed his team- mates after Wednesday's Champions League dismissal.

A still pimply-faced 23-year-old, Craig Bellamy is a little young to be considered an old drama queen, but that's the inescapable conclusion to be drawn from yesterday's performance.

Yapping like one of those small terriers so beloved of continental ladies, he yelps, gesticulates and wails his way through matches.

Then there's his sense of balance.

It would be harsh to say he goes to ground far too easily, but reliable reports from Tyneside suggest he got up from his seat during last night's highlights show, crossed in front of the TV set and cleared a hostess trolley full of drinks as he plunged dramatically into a leather Chesterfield couch.

It was a routine he had practised earlier in the afternoon.

With the match just 21 minutes old, Bellamy got goalside of the Blues' defence down the inside right channel. Yobo, as ever, reacted like lightning to the threat, but placed a hand on the forward's shoulder.

It was all the invitation Bellamy needed to plummet like Peter Kay from the topboard.

The official carrying the yellow flag claimed to have seen enough contact to warrant a dismissal, and an aghast Yobo was shown the red card.

That left Everton almost 70 minutes to defend the lead given them by Kevin Campbell's customary St James' Park strike.

Five times now Campbell has played for Everton on Tyneside, on five occasions he has found the net -and four of them have been the crucial opening goal.

Yesterday's came just 16 minutes in. David Unsworth carried the ball out of defence, looked up and clipped a defence piercing pass over the Magpies' rearguard and into Campbell's path. He chested the ball on, held off the covering challenge and poked the ball under Given.

But any chance Everton had of building on that lead was wiped away by Yobo's red card.

Richard Wright had already made two impressive stops from Bellamy and, as Everton gathered to preserve their goal lead, he showed more of the form which must surely see Sven Goran Eriksson booking a ticket for Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

A tip over he made from Shearer's bullet header in the 33rd minute was stunning.

His all-round game displayed assurance and composure, too, and with David Weir replacing Yobo at the heart of defence and Radzinski tucked in as a sort of deep-lying inside right, it needed something special to beat him.

Just five minutes remained when a left wing cross was cleared from the Everton penalty area towards the lurking striker. Still 20-25 yards out, at a prohibitive angle, he connected with a truly stunning volley which arced over Wright.

He later rated it in his all-time top three. For a forward who has struck superlative goals for more than a decade, that said it all.

A point would still have been a creditable achievement for Everton, but they were denied even that consolation in the 89th minute.

Bellamy dribbled in from the byline and his poked, near post shot looked to be covered by Wright, but the ball clipped agonisingly off Li Tie's toe and spun past his despairing grasp.

As if the late goals weren't bad enough for Everton, David Unsworth was booked in the 91st minute and joined Joseph Yobo on derby-match death row.

The pair will miss the Anfield derby on December 22 through suspension -unless Everton can see off Chelsea on Wednesday night and contest the Worthington Cup fifth round just a few days earlier.

But both Yobo and Unsworth need not despair just yet.

If their team-mates show the same character, grit and resolve on Wednesday that they did here - and enjoy a little more luck - they could bounce straight back.